• Section 1 - Purpose
• Section 2 - Application
• Section 3 - Roles and Responsibilities
• Section 4 - Relationship to TEQSA Threshold Standards
• Section 5 - Principles
• Section 6 - Workplace Health Support Goals and Objectives
• Section 7 - Workers' Compensation Coverage
• Section 8 - Delegations

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) QUT is committed to supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of all staff, including those who are working with an existing or developing disability, injury or illness, hereafter known as health condition (Disability Policy).

(2) QUT is committed to supporting staff health, safety and wellbeing through the integration of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy into daily business practices, to include best practice work health support and effective workers’ compensation management, beyond legislated compliance. 

Section 2 - Application

(3) This Policy applies to any QUT staff member who experiences a work-related illness or injury, and/or who requires assistance with workplace health support for a non-work related health condition, including developing or ongoing health conditions.

Section 3 - Roles and Responsibilities

Section 4 - Relationship to TEQSA Threshold Standards

(4) This Policy has no relation to any TEQSA Threshold Standards.

Section 5 - Principles

(5) QUT acknowledges that early intervention is the best practice approach to preventing and/or managing health conditions.

(6) QUT recognises that good work is beneficial to peoples’ health and wellbeing, and that long term work absences have a negative impact on health and wellbeing.

(7) The aim of QUT's workplace health support is to assist staff in the early recovery or ongoing management of any health condition, including both work and non-work related health conditions.

(8) QUT supports a flexible approach to workplace health support to meet the individual needs of the staff member in conjunction with the requirements of the business area, wherever practicable and operationally reasonable.

(9) The Department of Health, Safety and Environment (DHSE) processes and coordinates workers’ compensation claim activities. 

Section 6 - Workplace Health Support Goals and Objectives

(10) The goal of workplace health support is to individualise work health support to meet the health needs of the staff member, while balancing out the business needs required for their role; in order to achieve a sustainable and safe return to usual duties, within a reasonable timeframe.

(11) The objective of workplace health support is to understand, remove or minimise barriers which impact on a staff members successful recovery and safe return to work, by modifying factors which influence positive work health support outcomes. Modifiable factors can include:

1. providing early, timely workplace health support services;
2. promoting a culture of acceptance and inclusion;
3. enhancing motivation, empowerment and participation in a staff member’s decision making in the return to work process, enabling suitable and reasonable adjustments to usual duties and/or the work environment;
4. consulting, monitoring and reviewing the progress of the workplace support with key parties: the staff member, Supervisor, treating doctor, Department of Health, Safety and Environment Health Partner and where appropriate the insurer; or
5. maintaining privacy and confidentiality of health, medical, rehabilitation and compensation information as required by legislation.

(12) In the event that the staff member is assessed as being unable to return to work in their usual position (or in a modified position acceptable to all parties), a number of alternative arrangements may be discussed. These include, but are not limited to, the development of a reasonable work adjustment plan, variation to appointment, accessing appropriate leave provisions, utilising a superannuation or Centrelink benefit. An independent medical evaluation may be required to endorse the need for reasonable work adjustment or to confirm the functional implications of the staff member’s health condition for ongoing performance in their usual position.

(13) On occasion, termination of employment on medical grounds may occur. For professional and academic staff, this is covered in the respective Enterprise Agreements and Employment Conditions. For senior staff, this is covered in QUT’s Termination of employment on medical grounds - senior staff policy.

(14) Workplace health support concludes when the staff member:

1. resumes their usual duties and hours and/or the work health support goal is achieved;
2. transitions to an approved, ongoing ‘reasonable adjustment’ agreement; and/or
3. no longer wishes to engage in workplace health support.

Section 7 - Workers' Compensation Coverage

(15) University staff who sustain a work-related health condition are eligible to apply for workers compensation through the University’s workers compensation insurance policies, which are held for all states and territories in Australia. Staff who are primarily employed in Queensland are covered by the WorkCover Queensland Accident Insurance Policy.

(16) Staff working outside of Queensland for longer than six months, are able to access other insurance cover. Supervisors of such staff members should contact the Department of Health, Safety and Environment for advice to meet individual employment arrangements.

(17) Staff travelling overseas should read and comply with the University’s Travel Policy in addition to QUT Travel Insurance. Staff who are injured while traveling overseas for work purposes, who have ongoing medical expenses and support needs on their arrival back in Australia may be eligible to apply for workers compensation if their injury occurred during the course of their paid work for QUT.

(18) Further information on the application of procedures and entitlements are available from the Health, Safety and Environment website in the Digital Workplace (QUT staff access only).

Section 8 - Delegations